I’ve been possessed by the Holiday Spirit. It’s taken ahold of me, and I am pretty sure that I need an old priest, and a young priest.

I’ve always really enjoyed the holidays, the Christmas season in particular. For me, it’s never been about the religious aspect of the holiday because I’m not a Christian. For me it’s about childhood memories, decorating the tree, family, food, music.. The feeling in the air of excitement, the lights, the snow…. Well, not so much the snow anymore since I live in the South but you get the idea.

I mentioned in a previous post that I never, under any circumstance, decorate before Thanksgiving nor do I listen to Christmas music. For the past few years, I’ve kicked off the holiday festivities by decorating the tree the evening of Thanksgiving after we’ve come home, and watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I will not watch the movie during any other time of year. Just hearing the opening credits puts a smile on my face.

I don’t know if it’s because this is my first year as a mother and I want to make the holiday season as special to me as it is to my daughter but I’ve been chomping at the bit for Christmas to get here ever since seeing adorable Christmas piggy banks at Target back in October. I salivate at the thought of cutesy little snowman knickknacks perched upon my counters. I squeal at the sight of decorative hand towels for my kitchen (which I’ve already forbidden anyone from actually using). I think I’ve come down with Christmas Rabies. There’s practically red and green foam frothing from my mouth whenever I set foot in Target (Christmas Rabies is different than normal rabies.. You don’t need any shots in the stomach, and really the only side effect is that you smell like candy canes and hear nothing but Christmas music playing in your head for a month straight).

I’ve already broken my own rules about decorating and today? I caved in to pressure and listened to the Christmas station on the radio that’s been live since right after Halloween. I heard my favorite Christmas song, “Happy XMas (War is Over)” by John Lennon and I just said screw it and blasted the radio and sang along.

I know I should respect the bird and all, and I will do plenty of respecting tomorrow when I’m gobbling it down (gobbling it down.. get it?) but I just can’t help it. Christmas Rabies have infected me, and I’m seeing the world through red-and-green-tinted glasses.